Collection
"Epitome
Musical". Turnhout, 2008. 29 x 40 cm.
2 vols, x, 164; 211 pp. Full-color facsimile in the original format.
Exciting late medieval source with 99 songs and 13 motets, 61 of them
unique. These works include some of the most elaborate surviving
examples of the “Ars subtilior” notation, known for its experimentation
in music rhythm. The provenance of this complex ms is still in dispute,
being either 14th century southern France or an early 15th century
Italian copy of a French repertoire. The basic corpus dates from
c.1350-95; the ars subtilior repertoire by papal singers from Avignon
and musicians employed at the Foix and Avignon courts is slightly
later. Composers include Solage, Philippus de Caserta, Trebor,
Vaillant, Machaut, Senleches, Susay, Cordier, Magister Franciscus, and
Hasprois. The ms was owned by a Florentine family (possibly
commissioned by them) and remained in Florence until 1861, at which
time it was brought to Chantilly by the Duke of Aumale. Commentary in
Fr-Eng. Handsome binding in black linen with dust jacket. (few copies
remaining)